Eileen H.

Anyone who knows me knows I have always loved animals. When we moved, I started following the local animal rescue groups on Facebook. In March, one of them which also does wildlife rehab posted about an upcoming information session on becoming a wildlife rehabilitator. I was immediately intrigued. I attended the session, learned about what it entailed, and what a huge need there was for more rehabbers, and decided to go through with taking the exam that was coming up in April. I took it and passed! A few weeks later I was invited with some other fresh new rehabbers to the rescue to practice feeding some baby animals - I got to tube feed a baby opossum & syringe feed a baby squirrel! I was hooked! The next week I got my first baby opossums transferred from another rehabber - 4 of them - and a month later another single baby opossum from the same rehabber ahead of her leaving for a trip. I successfully raised up all 5 and released them. A couple weeks ago, I got my first call from someone who found a dead opossum mom with some babies. I took in those 7 babies, brought them back from dehydration, and they are now thriving and gaining weight. It is very fulfilling to take in these animals who didn't have a chance of surviving on their own and giving them the chance to have a life out there and make babies of their own!